Bowling pin spotting apparatus



G. A. GRUSS 2,964,317 BOWLING PIN SPOTTING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 13, 1960 Filed Oct. 4, 1957 INVENTOR GEORGE A. GRUSS Dec. 13, 1960 1 G. A. GRUSS BOWLING PIN SPOTTING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct; 4. 1957 INVENTOR GEORGE A. GRUSS BY M4 TTORNEY Dec. 13, 1960 G. A. GRUSS BOWLING PIN SPOTTING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed QGG. 4, 1957 Tw 1 w rH rH INVENTOR GEORGE A. GRUSS %;ww

ATTEJM Dec. 13, 1960 G. A. GRuss- BOWLING PIN SPOTTING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 4, 1957 4- Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 6

S s U RR 06 T. NA E .w.% m E Y B ATTORN Y United States Patent BOWLING PIN SPOTTING APPARATUS George A. Gruss, Shelby, Ohio, assignor to American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New This invention relates to automatic bowling pin spotting machines and more particularly to novel mechanism for protecting the spotting and respotting mechanism thereof fromdamage by pins projected upwardly off the playing surface of a bowling alley by a bowling ball.

In automatic bowling machines generally available, the spotting mechanism or table is located in non-operative position directly above the pins standing on the alley. In this position, the respotting portions of the table, and more particularly those. associated with the No. 7 through 10 pins, are subject to. serious damage from pins which, due to the force of impact from a rapidly thrown bowling ball, are projected upwardly or fly off the playing surface of the alley. This is an especial problem with those automatic bowling machines employed in the game of duck-pins wherein the particular shape and dynamics of the pin associated therewith tend to cause these pins to fly more than other types of pins; such as, tenpins or candle-pins.

The present invention is directed towards solving the above stated problem by providing a pivotally-mounted guard adjacent those portions of the table; namely, the No. 7 through 10 pin respot cells, most susceptible to damage, from flying pins, to protect these members from impact with flying pins while still allowing the normal operation of the automatic bowling pin spotting machine.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide novel mechanism to protect the spotting and respotting mechanism of an automatic bowling machine against possible damage from upwardly flying pins.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel protecting mechanism including a guard mounted adjacent the No. 7 through 10 respot cells of a spotting and respotting table of an automatic bowling machine which can at the proper time be positioned to protect them against pins flying upwardly in response to being struck by a ball.

An added object of this invention is to provide a novel mechanism for protecting the spotting and respotting table which does not interfere with the normal operation of the automatic bowling machine associated therewith.

A further object of the present invention is to provide control means for the novel protecting apparatus whereby the apparatus is moved into and out of operative position adjacent the spotting and respotting table during the cyclic operation of an automatic bowling machine.

Figure l is a partial side elevation illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a partial end elevation of a portion of the mechanism shown in- Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of a detail of a suitable mounting for the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 is a partial sectional view of the cross plate.

Figure 6 is a side elevation, partially in section, illus- 2,964,317 Patented Dec. 13, 1960 ice 2 trating the preferred embodiment of the invention in nonoperative position.

In the mechanism shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, the

bowling pin spotting and respotting table T may be similar in construction and operation to that disclosed in the Holloway et al. Patent No. 2,781,195. If desired, however, the protecting mechanism designated generally 10, which constitutes the present invention may be used with other types of bowling pin spotting and respotting devices with which it is adaptable.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention in operative or protecting position adjacent the spotting and respotting table designated generally T. Pins 11 are spotted and respotted on alley bed A of a conventional bowling alley. Bowling pins 11 which are knocked down by ball B are removed into pit P under their own momentum or by a. suitable sweep means (not shown).

In the illustrated embodiment, table T is provided witlr ten spotting units 300 mounted thereon in triangular arrangement and operated in such manner as to spot orplace ten bowling pins in spotted playing arrangement on the playing surface of alley bed A. Obviously if desired, a different number of units and a different arrangement on table T could be used., The arrangement shown, however, conforms with the approved rules of play. With each spotting unit 300, there is an associated respotting. unit 350, mounted in triangular arrangement on table T..

Attached to each side of table T are elongated vertical extensions 438 (Figures 1 and 3) to each ofwhiclr are pivotally connected one end respectively of upper and lower radius arms 440, only the lower one being shown in Figure 1. Radius arms 440 operate to main-- tain table T in a substantially horizontal plane at all times, both during its movement to and from alley bed A. and when table T dwells above alley bed A. Radius arms: 440 are pivotally connected at their other ends to any suitable fixed support.

Table T, its supporting structure, spotting units 300 and respotting units 350 are similar in construction and! mode of operation to those disclosed in Holloway et all. Patent No. 2,781,195, and further disclosure thereof is. deemed unnecessaryand is omitted.

The structure shown is considered suflicient to a full understanding of the manner in which the mechanism embodying the invention is mounted for operation therewith.

Referring to the drawings, protecting mechanism P comprises inverted substantially vertical U-shaped frames 12 and 14 (Figure 2) fixed to the upper inside wall of each kickback K adjacent the pit end of alley bed A. One leg of each U-frame 12 and 14 is secured to its respective kickback K while the other leg extends over alley bed A and is fixed to and supports the upper end of a downwardly depending bracket 16 and 18, respectively, on each side of and above alley bed A adjacent No. 7 and No. 10 respotting units 350 of table T when in dwell position.

Double lever arms 20 and 22 are pivotally mounted at substantially their mid-points and secured in the lower portion of each bracket 16 and 18 respectively by suitable studs 21.

Cross-plate 24 which extends across pit P, is secured at its ends to the lower portions of lever arms 20 and 22. Referring to Figure 5, cross-plate 24 preferably is constructed of a layer of wood 25, mounted on a resilient fibrous or plastic undercoating 27 and both layers supported on a generally L-shaped metal base 29. Crossplate 24 is preferably of sufiicient width to extend completely beneath and cover the bottom of the No. 7 through No. 10 respotting units 350 when table T is in the dwell position shown in Figure 1.

Suitable counterweights 26 and 28 are mounted on the upper portion of lever arms 20 and 22, respectively'(Fig= ures 1, 2, 3 and 6). Elongated rod 30 extending transversely of pit P is-secured at its ends in the lower ends of brackets 16 and 18, thereby furnishinglateral stability to the entire. structure of the protecting mech'anismlO.)

When, during thecyclic operation of the automatic bowling machine, table T is in the dwell position shown' in Figure 1, lever arms 20 and 22 due to the action of counterweights 26 and 28 swing about their pivotal connections on brackets 16 and 18 until engaged by stops 32 and 34 fixed to brackets 16-and 18. Stops 32 and 34 are so positioned that as-a result ofthis swinging movement of arms 20 and 22 cross plate 24 will be swung from its substantially vertical inoperative position shown in Figures 1 and 6 into its substantially horizontal operative guarding position beneath table T, andmore especial ly beneath and adjacent the No. 7 through No. respotting units 350. In this position,it-will be apparent that cross-plate 24 serves as an effective shield forthese respotting units from flying pins since it is only when table T is in the dwell position illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3 that bowlers may bowl against pins 11 standing on alley bed A.

When table T, during the pinspotting cycle, is to move downwardly toward alley bed A to spot or respot pins thereon it is evident that cross-plate 24 must be withdrawn from its protecting or operative position in order to allow table T to perform its functions properly. To accomplish this, radius arm 440 adjacent No. 10 respotting unit 350 is provided with a downwardly depending bracket 36. A stud shaft 38 fixed in the lower end of bracket 36 rotatably supports a roller 40 such that it is closely adjacent lever arm 20 when table T is in its dwell position.

As table T is moved downwardly toward alley bed A, radius arms 440 rotate about their end connections'in the direction of arrow C, thereby maintaining table T at all times in horizontal position as required in the operation thereof. When the lower radius arm 440 adjacent the No. 10 respotting unit 350 thus rotates in the direction of arrow C (Figure l) bracket 36 and roller 40 are likewise moved downwardly thereby in a similar arc of rotation. This movement of roller 40 which now engages the lower portion of lever arm 20, forces lever arm20 and consequently lever arm 22, attached to cross-plate 24, to swing about their pivotal connections in brackets 16 and 18 in the direction of arrow D (Figure 1) and against the action of counterweights 26 and 28. It will be readily apparent that this camming action of roller 40, accomplishes the withdrawal of cross-plate 24 from-operative or protecting position adjacent respot units 350 and allows the unhampered operation of table T and its associated mechanism.

Since table T is moved toward the alley bed during its respotting cycle, and also during the spottingcycle, a lock device is provided for selectively retaining the protecting apparatus in non-operative position, as shown in phantom in Figure 1 out of the range of operation of table T until table T is located in its dwell position prior to actual play or the rolling of balls against pins standing on the alley.

A locking device which has been found to give satisfacscribed hereinabove, lever arm 20 contacts nose 43 of latch 42-thereby rotating latch 42 clockwise or upwardly (Figures 1 and 6). Roller 40 continues to be moved downward until it assumes the positionshown in Figure 6. This movement causes lever arm 20 to continue to rotate in the direction of arrow D (Figure 1) andout of contact with latch 42 which will return to its original position with cross-stud 46 adjacent U-frame 12.

When during the spotting and respotting cycle, lower radius arm 440 and its associated roller 40 are moved upwardly by the table raising and lowering mechanism M; returning table T to its position above alley bed A, cross plate 24, due to the action of counterweights 26 and 28 will attempt to gravitate into operative position. In so doing, lever arm will again contact latch 42. However, in this instance, tongue 48 of latch 42 engages a fitted groove 50 in'leverarm 20 preventing upward rotation of latch 42 and retaining cross-plate 24 in non-operative position. The mechanism for raising and lowering table T may be similar to that shown in the above referred to Holloway et al. patent. Since this structure forms no specific partof the invention, further showing and description thereof its deemed unnecessary.

To release the protecting mechanism as needed, a control system is provided to selectively trip latch 42 and release lever arm 20 allowing cross-plate 24 to move to operative position. Solenoid 52 connected in a suitable operating circuit (not shown) is mounted on U-frame l2adjacent latch 42. The external end of armature 54 of solenoid 52 is connected to latch 42 such that when solenoid 52 is energized, armature 54 will be retracted into solenoid 52. Since the external end of armature 54 is connected to latch 42, latch 42 will thus be rotated upwardly and out of engagement with lever arm 20. When lever arm 20 is thus released, cross-plate 24 swings by the action of counterweights 26 and 28 into its operative position adjacent the No. 7 through No. 10 respot units 350.

To energize solenoid 52 at the proper time to release the protecting mechanism 10, a suitable control switch is mounted adjacent arm 58 secured to drive shaft 60 ofa suitable sweep mechanism S. When in the operation of sweep S, arm 58 is rotated into position to close switch 56, the operating circuit is completed energizing solenoid 52. Arm 58 is mounted on drive shaft 60 such that the lever arm 20- is released just as table T is being raised to its dwell position from alley bed A upon completion of its spotting or respotting operation. Crossplate 24 thus released will be biased by gravity into contact with roller 40 as roller 40 and its associated radius arm 440 are slowly rotated upwardly. This ensures the controlled return of protecting cross-plate 24 into its operative position, preventing possible damage to the mechanism by a sudden or abrupt gravitation thereinto. It has been found to be convenient to mount arm 58 on drive shaft 60 in a position to close switch 56 after drive shaft 60 hasrotated through substantially 315 of its full 360 cycle. This produces the release of cross-plate 24 of the protective mechanism 10 at the desired time in the cyclic operation of the automatic bowling machine of which the invention forms a part.

I claim:

1. Protecting mechanism for a bowling pin spotting machine mounted at the pit end of a bowling alley and having a pin spotting and respotting table comprising a shield, means rotatably mounting said shield transversely of said pit for gravity bias toward said table, gravity actuated means biasing said shield toward said table, said shield being constructed and arranged for movement by. said biasing means from a substantially vertical inoperative position adjacent one'side of said table into a substantially horizontal operative protecting position beneath and adjacent the number 7 through 10 pin portions of the spotting and respotting table when said table is in operative position above said playing surface of said alley, means mounting said table for movement to and from said playing surface for spotting and respotting pins thereon and means mounted on said table mounting-moans and operative to pivot said shield into inoperative position as said table is moved toward said playing surface whereby said shield is freely moved out of the range of operation of said table during the spotting and respotting operations thereof.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 including a latch, means mounting pivotally said latch on said shield mounting means and operative to engage a portion of said shield, retaining said shield in inoperative position away from said table when said portion of said shield is moved into the range of operation of said latch by said shield pivoting means on said table mounting means.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 including control means for the selected release of said shield from engagement with said latch for effecting movement of said shield by said biasing means into operative position adjacent said table, said control means comprising a solenoid, means mounting the external end of said solenoid to said latch and means for the selective energizing of said solenoid whereby said armature is retracted into said solenoid and said latch is moved out of engagement with said shield.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said last named means includes a switch, a cam, means mounting said switch adjacent said cam, means mounting said cam on the sweep motor of said machine whereby, when said drive shaft rotates to a predetermined position, said cam contacts said switch completing a circuit through said solenoid to release said shield for movement by said biasing means into operative protecting position.

5. In a bowling pin spotting machine having a table with means for spotting and respotting pins on the pin supporting deck of a bowling alley, a protective mechanism comprising a plate, arms supporting said plate transversely above said alley, means rotatably mounting said arms in spaced relationship adjacent each side of said table, said arms supporting said plate for gravity bias toward said table, gravity actuated means biasing said shield toward said table, said plate being constructed and arranged for movement by said biasing means from a substantially vertical inoperative position adjacent one side of said table into a substantially horizontal operative protecting position beneath said table when said table is in dwell position above the pin supporting deck of said alley, means supporting said table for movement to and from said pin supporting deck for spotting and respotting pins thereon and means mounted on said table supporting means for pivoting said shield into inoperative position as said table is moved toward said playing surface whereby said shield is freely moved out of the range of operation of said table, conditioning said table for spotting and respotting pins on said alley.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 including means for retaining said plate in vertical inoperative position during the spotting and respotting operations of said table and control means operatively associated with said lastnamed means for selectively releasing said plate for movement thereof by said biasing means into operative protecting position beneath said table.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,657,929 Auchincloss Nov. 3, 1953 2,697,605 Montooth et al Dec. 21, 1954 2,757,001 Janes July 31, 1956 2,803,462 Zuercher Aug. 20, 1957 

